Boa Vista Island Full-Day Tour: North to South Discovery

A full arc across the island in one day, from protected beaches to desert dunes

A guided full-day tour of Boa Vista, Cape Verde, traveling north to south across the island's beaches, villages and desert landscape with an air-conditioned vehicle, sandboard, and lunch included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and other languages, and hotel pickup is arranged. The route covers seven to eight hours and includes sandboarding on dunes that reach the sea, turtle nesting beaches, Pavoacao Velha village, Sal Rei's markets and fishing port, a beached shipwreck, and the 50-meter dunes of Deserto de Viana.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Boa Vista's natural and cultural sites

• Sandboarding on vast sand dunes
• Explore caves and observe turtles
• Relax at the biggest beach in Cape Verde
• Visit the oldest village, Pavoacao Velha
• Shop and explore markets in Sal Rei
• See the shipwreck at Cabo Santa Maria
• Photo stop at Deserto de Viana dunes

The experience

Seven to eight hours means the day starts early and holds the full span of Boa Vista's geography. You begin at Morro De Areia Beach and Nature Reserve, where the caves shelter turtle nesting sites and you can explore them on foot. From there, the route moves to Santa Monica, the largest beach in Cape Verde, where the water is clear enough to swim and the sand stretches long enough to feel like the only person there. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters when the sun is direct and the stops are spaced across open terrain.

Sandboarding on dunes that slope toward the ocean is the physical centerpiece. The dunes rise 50 meters in Deserto de Viana, a small Sahara on the island's southern edge, and you glide down them with the Atlantic visible at the base. The sandboard is included, and the guide will point out where marine life sometimes surfaces. Before you reach the desert, you pass through Pavoacao Velha, the oldest village on the island, founded in 1620. Walking through it is a shift in pace: traditional Cape Verdean houses, locals who still live the way the island did centuries ago, and no tourism machinery between you and the place.

Sal Rei, the island's capital, is where the day pauses for lunch and culture. The fishing market is active in the morning, the municipal market sells local goods and souvenirs, and the Shipwreck Museum sits nearby. Lunch and one drink are included. On the north coast, Cabo Santa Maria holds the beached carcass of an old Spanish ship, a protected turtle nesting beach where the wreck and the wildlife exist side by side. The guide will stop for photos at the dunes and at the shipwreck. Both are the kind of sight that photographs differently than memory sees it.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• sandboard for the dunes.
• lunch and one drink in Sal Rei.
• hotel pickup and return.
• a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and other languages.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 32

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Spot Travel Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a structured day hitting beaches, dunes, villages, and caves across the island without deciding the route yourself. The guide handles the itinerary and pacing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is sandboarding like on Boa Vista's dunes?

Sandboarding happens on dunes that slope down toward the sea, with the largest dunes in Deserto de Viana reaching 50 meters high. You glide down the sand with the ocean visible at the base, and the guide points out where sharks and turtles sometimes surface in the water below.

Can I see sea turtles on this tour?

Morro De Areia Beach and Nature Reserve has caves where turtles nest, and you can explore them on foot. Cabo Santa Maria on the north coast is also a protected turtle nesting beach. Whether you spot turtles depends on the season and the time of day, but the nesting sites are part of the route.

What is Pavoacao Velha like?

Pavoacao Velha is the oldest village on Boa Vista, founded in 1620, and walking through it feels like stepping back in time. You'll see traditional Cape Verdean houses and meet locals who still live there, with no tourist infrastructure between you and the place itself.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch and one drink are included in the tour price. You'll eat in Sal Rei, the island's capital, after visiting the fishing market and the municipal market. The guide will arrange the meal as part of the day's schedule.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs seven to eight hours total. Hotel pickup is included, so the guide will collect you from your accommodation and return you at the end of the day.

What should I bring for sandboarding and beach time?

Bring sunscreen, a hat, and swimwear if you plan to swim at Santa Monica or Morro De Areia. The sandboard is provided, and the vehicle is air-conditioned between stops. Wear shoes that can handle sand and sun exposure.